City Go

The land where Marechal Carmona Park is located was used for farming and leisure since de 16th century. It was later acquired by the Order of the Barefoot Carmelites and sold at a public auction after religious orders were extinct in Portugal, in 1834. The place was then bought by Viscount of Gandarinha, who turned it into a romantic park. In 1944 the park, already in the possession of the State, was joined to the Gardens of the Counts of Castro Guimarães and opened to the public. After the 1974 Revolution, that put an end to the dictatorial regime of Estado Novo, the park was renamed to Gandarinha but it is still better known as Marechal Carmona, president during Estado Novo. Every Saturday there's an Organic Market in the park. It's the ideal place to relax while touring Cascais: it has a picnic area, a playground, a junior library and a coffee shop. Opening hours: Nov. to Mar 8h30 to 17h45; Apr. to Oct. 8h30 to 19h45. Entrance free ...

The house of Santa Maria, built in 1902, was designed by the Portuguese architect Raul Lino, one of his first works. It was ordered by Jorge O' Neill, a Portuguese businessman of Irish ascendancy, but sold to the architect's brother in 1918, who added 18th-century tiles and a painted wooden ceiling brought from a chapel in Frielas. The house was again sold in 1925 to the Espírito Santo family and in 2004 to the city council. The lighthouse museum of Santa Marta opened to the public in 2007. It has two main exhibitions, one on Portuguese lighthouses and a second one on the lighthouse of Santa Marta. The lighthouse is located in a fort, probably dating from the Restoration Wars, in the 17th century. The lighthouse was built two centuries later, in 1868, and is about 20m tall. Opening hours: Tue.to Fri. 10h to 17h, Sat. and Sun. 10h to 13h and 14h to 17h; The lighthouse tower Tue. to Fri., 11h to 12h, Sat. and Sun. 11h to 13h. Entrance fee: €4 ...

Ribeira Beach is located in the centre of Cascais, close to the main square. It is named after Ribeira de Vinhais (a stream) which flows into the ocean in this beach. It is mainly used for fishing activities and there are a small dock and pier. It is thus also known as "Fishermen's beach". Although it isn't destined for bathing, the water quality is good and monitored regularly and the beach is supervised by a lifeguard during the bathing season. It is located about five minutes from the train station and can be crowded during the high season, particularly on weekends.